One of the main topics of talks between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels is about the Association/Community of Serbian Municipalities (ZSO). Attitudes are different in Serbia and Kosovo on jurisdiction and the format of this Association/Community. Question of jurisdiction of the ZSO is completed, said Edita Tahiri, and Ilir Deda of Self-Determination claims that Kosovo will be the second BiH with this community.
The question of the powers of the Community/Association of Serbian municipalities, the head of Kosovo’s negotiating team, Edita Tahiri considered complete.
“This organization will, according to the laws of Kosovo and the Brussels agreement, have the authority to coordinate, recommend and will have an advisory role, but will not have executive powers. In Kosovo there are two levels in the executive political and constitutional system: the central level, i.e. the government, and municipal level. So, municipalities are in fact the executive authorities at the municipal level,” says Edita Tahiri.
Minister for Return and Communities, Dalibor Jevtic said that the importance of this community lies in the better organization of Serbian municipalities.
“The ZSO is very important for a better organization of Serbs in Kosovo, primarily, but also important because I expect that it will have jurisdiction within the education of health care, urban planning and economic development. What kind of powers and competence the ZSO will have, in the direct sense, we will see. I think anyone who in any way comment on this topic, not taking into account all the facts, is hindering the whole process,” says Jevtic.
The loudest opposition party, the Self-Determination Movement, said that second BiH will be formed in Kosovo with this community.
“With the functionalization of Serbian municipalities, Kosovo is becoming another Bosnia, and moving towards federalisation. So, we do not say – federalization it is not, but is moving towards it. The Brussels agreement gives right to municipalities with Serbian majority to perform their duties collectively through the Association of Municipalities and it is against the Kosovo Constitution and existing laws. Municipalities cannot exercise their powers collectively,” said Ilir Deda, the Self-Determination MP.
While politicians try to find a consensus on how it should look the Community/Association of Serbian Municipalities, on the ground Serbs declare themselves for the Community/Association and the Albanians see it as a threat.
Observers in Pristina agree in the assessment that the question of jurisdiction of the Community/Association of Serbian municipalities, so far, perhaps is the greatest test for the negotiations in Brussels and their successful bringing to an end.
